Oakhill College Innovation Hub inspirational hybrid design

The Sydney Oakhill College Innovation Hub under construction will provide state of the art technical workshops as well as science and laboratory spaces to prepare college students for a rapidly changing world, empowering them to explore new ideas and become knowledge-creators for the future.

The building project is an inspirational hybrid design celebrating timber in all its forms, utilising composite timber, steel and concrete around DFMA principles. 

The building structure and envelope is made up of a unique combination of many systems, each chosen for their particular characteristics. 

The 4,200 sqm learning space, known as the Innovation Hub is designed as a mass timber structure using Passivhaus principles, to provide state-of-the-art facilities, throughout science labs, hybrid workshops, and large multi-purpose spaces.

The project included Glulam (GLT) beams and columns (both local and European), Cross Laminated Timber (CLT), composite timber-concrete floors, lightweight timber walls and roof, plus structural steelwork provided by Viridi Group. 

With such a large number of materials and systems it has required a high degree of coordination across multiple disciplines and the entire design team has worked together to refine the building design around DFMA principles to make the best use of the timber and deliver a cost-effective and high-quality structure. 

Design challenges included developing new details around the brand-new innovative construction systems which are being used for the first time in Australia. 

The combination of the Viridi Strongfloor system with Peikko’s Deltabeam allowed for a thin structural system without through the corridors, allowing freedom to run ductworks and services without having to coordinate around downstand timber beams.

The project will be discussed at the Timber Offsite Construction 2022 conference and exhibition by a panel comprised of Russell Garnett, Managing Director, urban revolutions; Justin Lo, Architect, BVN; and Nick Hewson, Chief Design Officer and Head of Product Development, Viridi Group.